ADAM TOMLINSON FROM COBRIDGE ESCAPES JAIL DESPITE GROOMING TWO GIRLS IN STAFFORDSHIRE

In a case that has shocked the local community of Cobridge and the wider Staffordshire area, 18-year-old Adam Tomlinson was found guilty of serious grooming offences involving two underage girls, yet he was spared immediate imprisonment. The incident dates back to November 2016, when authorities uncovered disturbing evidence of his inappropriate online behavior.

It all began when the mother of a 12-year-old girl discovered sexually explicit messages exchanged between her daughter and Tomlinson on Facebook. Concerned by the nature of their conversations, she promptly contacted the police to report her suspicions. Law enforcement officers responded swiftly, seizing Tomlinson’s computer for forensic analysis. The investigation revealed that at the time, Tomlinson was 17 years old.

The police examination uncovered a troubling array of content stored on his device, including extreme pornography such as bestiality, as well as indecent images of children. These findings painted a disturbing picture of his online activity. During court proceedings, prosecutor Nicholas Tatlow detailed the case, explaining that Tomlinson had initiated contact with the 12-year-old girl via Facebook and had engaged her in conversations that included invitations to visit his flat in Hanley. The girl’s mother intervened after discovering the messages, which included Tomlinson asking her to come to his residence, with the stipulation that her friend would have to stay in the living room while they went into his bedroom.

Further investigation revealed that Tomlinson had also communicated with a 14-year-old girl through social media. During their exchanges, he made several sexual references, including expressing a desire to have sex with her, despite her making it clear she was underage. Although Tomlinson met with the 14-year-old girl in person, no sexual activity took place during their meeting. The police analysis of his computer also uncovered images of bestiality, which Tomlinson claimed he had downloaded out of curiosity, although these images had been deleted prior to the investigation. Additionally, he admitted to possessing an extreme pornographic image and indecent photographs of children, categorized as Category C, the least severe grade but still illegal and concerning.

At Stoke-on-Trent Crown Court, Judge David Fletcher sentenced Tomlinson to a three-year community order. The sentence included a 40-day requirement for participation in a rehabilitation activity and 100 hours of unpaid work. The judge expressed his disapproval of Tomlinson’s conduct, stating, “The most worrying aspect of your behaviour is the approaches you made to the younger two girls. Some of the things you were saying to the 14-year-old were quite frankly repulsive and appalling. You should be very ashamed of that behaviour.”

While the court acknowledged that the images of children found on his device were of the least serious category, they still represented a breach of the law. Prosecutor Nicholas Tatlow also revealed that Tomlinson faced additional charges after engaging in consensual sex with a 15-year-old girl, further complicating his case. Defense lawyer Paul Cliff argued that the offences related to his computer were disturbing but emphasized that Tomlinson’s actions did not result in direct sexual abuse of the victims. He highlighted Tomlinson’s young age at the time of the offences, suggesting that his immaturity and the influence of social media played a role.

In addition to the community order, Tomlinson was subjected to a sexual harm prevention order that prohibits him from living with anyone under 16 or bringing an under-16 to his residence. He is also required to make his computer and browsing history available to police upon request and will be subject to registration requirements for five years, aiming to prevent further offending and protect potential victims.